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Edmonton Marijuana Dispensaries

Thread to discuss Edmonton's municipal plans as we progress down the legalization path. Latest article from the Journal here mentions how the city is considering restricting zoning to prevent the proliferation that Vancouver has seen. I agree it should be managed properly, but I hope to see it be privatized like liquor stores so we get choice and entrepreneurial innovation.

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" - Blaise Pascal

But drinking liquor near a store doesn’t affect bystanders the same way a cloud of pot smoke would, Nickel said: “As an intoxicant, how are you going to deal with that?”

If Nickel is worried that people might get intoxicated from walking by places where marijuana is being consumed, I think he can put his mind at ease. I won't say that contact-highs are mythological in the sense that unicorns are mythological, but I'd say they're a pretty rare creature in any case. If it were that easy to get a second-hand stone, you'd have a lot more people just showing up at parties weedless, and just breathing the air to get high. (Though I guess you could eventually end up with a free-rider problem.)

Plus, he seems to be talking about people walking OUTDOORS, breathing the smoke coming out of a shop. That makes psychoactive impact even less likely.

That said, I'm still hedging my bets on the posssibility of full legalization of recreational marijuana. I could see the whole thing getting bogged down in inter-jurisdictional squabbles, eg. if it's gonna be sold in liquor stores, a few provinces will say they don't want to do that, and the feds won't be able to force them, etc etc.

And, if you read his statements carefully, Trudeau says that his goal in legalization is to keep it away from kids(because the black market supposedly makes it more accessible), not to make it easier for stoners to indulge. This gives him the perfect escape hatch if he wants to back down: "Upon further study, we've found that legalization might actually make it easier for kids to get stoned, so..." And then loosen the rules on medical marijuana a bit to give the impression that he's fulilling his promises.

That being said, I don't imagine legalization will permit smoking in public anyways, so it's a total non-concern. Just like you can't walk down the street drinking a six pack, nor will you be able to smoke a joint. In Nickel's example, the people consuming both the liquor and the marijuana apparently right outside the door are breaking the law, and would face ticketing or arrest. So what's the big concern in that specific example?

In general though, I do agree that there will need to be restrictions on where the shops can open, if that's the way legalization goes. Personally, I can't stand how many awful looking liquor stores there are scattered around every nook and cranny. Which is why I think that grocery stores should be able to sell at least a limited selection of beer and wine, as that would put a fair number of the small independents out of business. For pot, I'm not sure what distribution model makes the most sense. It probably doesn't make sense to sell it in liquor stores, for a variety of reasons, but mostly because from a public health perspective it's probably best not to be selling two intoxicants in the same place. I don't think pharmacies should be selling recreation pot for the same reasons they shouldn't be selling booze or tobacco (medicinal makes sense, of course).

So likely a dispensary model makes the most sense, but they're just so damn tacky. I was on a motorcycle trip through Washington a little over a month ago, and the sheer number of them along the highway through every town was pretty surprising to me. And it seemed like 50% of the billboards I went by were advertising for it as well. I have zero problems with recreational pot use, I just don't want to see a massive proliferation of ugly storefronts similar to what we already have with liquor.

I see kids/teens still drinking and smoking tobacco all the time. Legalization won't change much for pot either. I'm all for it though. Silly double standard and missed revenue opportunity for governments.

the sheer number of them along the highway through every town was pretty surprising to me. And it seemed like 50% of the billboards I went by were advertising for it as well. I have zero problems with recreational pot use, I just don't want to see a massive proliferation of ugly storefronts similar to what we already have with liquor.

I think we're still witnessing this because it's new. Fast forward a few years and I think it will die down, especially as it becomes common. This screams "tourists, smoke weed here!" which won't mean a thing as legalization creeps it's way into the mainstream. I imagine liquor and strippers are the same way in places where it's legal, right next to jurisdictions where it is/was not.

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" - Blaise Pascal

However, below, you'll see an example of a very poor article. It implies cause and effect without providing any data to show that the accidents were caused by smoking dope. Legalize the stuff and a whole lot more people may then use it, even more will breath it as second hand smoke, so of course, it will be in their blood. ...but at what concentration? I'd assume that they'd know that considering that there were fatalities.

Note: I would expect more accidents and deaths in some respects and fewer deaths in other respects.

Edmonton did have a dispensary run for 10+ Years providing access to Medical Paients. MACROS - amazing people. But thats a side note. Federally after Legalization the only thing that makes sense is to allow storefront dispensaries.

As the current model stands LPs (Licensed Producers - companies allowed to grow Medical pot) are NOT allowed to operate storefronts. All Cannabis must be sent through the mail. Also the redtape to become an LP is insane, which is why we dont have a lot more.

I imagine Trudeau will 'flick the switch' so to say with the LPs and allow them to have storefronts OR allow any Joe Blow operate a storefront but all their product must be purchased through the already established LPs.

Either way aside from basic zoning regulations I hope we see an abundance of Dispensaries once Legalization happens.

"This legislation is going to be a model for the world. So Canadians want to ensure it's done in the safest way possible. When the new technology for testing drivers is in, we'll be implementing the laws to begin the legalization of weed!"

^oh my, it could be decades before that technology comes... Crazy stuff, because it doesn't stop people using this drug. Just legalize it already, if the US states can, why can't Canada? I'm guessing Trudeau is struggling with because he won't be a good boy scout with the UN anymore then...

^oh my, it could be decades before that technology comes... Crazy stuff, because it doesn't stop people using this drug. Just legalize it already, if the US states can, why can't Canada? I'm guessing Trudeau is struggling with because he won't be a good boy scout with the UN anymore then...

Yeah, legalizing it at the federal level would put us at odds with a bunch of international treaties, which would kind of complicate the Liberal narrative about how virtuous Canada is for always acting multilaterally etc.

There is a legitimate debate to be had(not that I think we should have it here) about just how detrimental marijuana is to driving; not all drugs have the same impact on spatial perception that alcohol does. And it's arguable that medicines containing opioids(some of which are OTC in Canada) would have a worse effect on driving, yet we seem to be cool with that risk.

There is the question of dosing when it comes to marijuana. Basically with alcohol, it takes approx an hour for an average person to fully metabolize one drink (1 bottle of beer, 1 shot of hard liquor, or 1 small glass of wine). Doses of prescription or OTC meds can be rationed easily as well. You cannot accurately ration or measure an active dose absorbed in inhaled smoke (or even second-hand doses).

For example, someone can have a couple of drinks and know that they need to wait a couple of hours before they can drive. It's a pretty easy formula. But how long does someone have to wait to drive after they smoked some pot? And how do they know how much they have taken? It's not as clear.

There is the question of dosing when it comes to marijuana. Basically with alcohol, it takes approx an hour for an average person to fully metabolize one drink (1 bottle of beer, 1 shot of hard liquor, or 1 small glass of wine). Doses of prescription or OTC meds can be rationed easily as well. You cannot accurately ration or measure an active dose absorbed in inhaled smoke (or even second-hand doses).

For example, someone can have a couple of drinks and know that they need to wait a couple of hours before they can drive. It's a pretty easy formula. But how long does someone have to wait to drive after they smoked some pot? And how do they know how much they have taken? It's not as clear.

That is a point. Gaseous inhalations and their impact are harder to quantify than their liquid counterparts.

Though I'd imagine that, if scientists really wanted to, they could give a rating according to weight, which would be more or less accurate for the average person. Whether that would deter the kind of person who is inclinded to drive while debilitatingly stoned is another question.

I also wonder how the war on tobacco(which I now consider to be a little overblown) is going to fare if the government allows ENTIRE SHOPS to exist for the sole purpose of selling clearly marked bags of weed, while convenience stores are still being required to hide their cigarettes behind curtained cupboards, as if it were hardcore pornography.

And will weed be covered by future anti-smoking campaigns, or is the scientific consensus that it doesn't harm you the way tobacco does?

Actually, I think a lot of people in the "marijuana lobby" are pretty sick of Emery and his antics. Thing is, that "lobby" is a fairly diverse group, from social activists like Emery to large business like Aurora that operate within existing laws and don't want to be associated with someone like Emery. In any case, I think it's a massive waste of police and court resources to go after Emery, even if he's basically begging for it. There are far, far more pressing matters for law enforcement and the courts to concern themselves with, in light of the fact that at some point in the next year or two, recreational marijuana will be legalized.

Well, the Liberals were elected on a promise of legalization, and are still saying they're gonna do that, with Bill Blair and Anne McLellan hashing out the details.

But, as I've already said, I'm still hedging my bets. Part of me thinks that the procedure is gonna turn out to be too convoluted and cumbersome to implement, and will at some point be subtly abandoned.

I really doubt that. The genie's already out of the bottle, essentially. There is no way they can try to stuff it back in. Although it's going to be hilarious to watch Jeff Sessions attempt to in the US. Well actually, no, probably not hilarious, because it'll likely lead to thousands of lives destroyed or ended unnecessarily in a new crackdown. But hey, it'll make Sessions' masters in the private prison industry happy.

Not sure how much impact this will have on the government's plans. Medical opinion was kind of used as a rationale for legalization in the first place, so if the Liberals lose the doctors, it might make it kind of awkward for them to proceed under the previous justification. On the other hand, I've long suspected that the medical concerns were just a facade for pandering to recreational users.

And speaking of all this, aren't the provinces supposed to be coming up with their own regulations, in preparation for next July? Anyone heard what's happening with that?

^ I suspect that home-brewed alcohol causes far fewer problems than store-bought, and I suspect that it would be the same for Marijuana.

I agree.

If someone simply wants to get boozed up, it's far easier to buy a bottle of something at the liquor store thank making it at home. It takes a lot of work, care, and patience to bew your own wine or beer. Everyone I know who does it (including myself) do it as a craft and a hobby. I envision it will be similar for people growing their own pot plants vs people who buy pot at a shop.

Apparently growing pot isn't even that easy. Keeping a plant alive, maybe, but having it grow properly, cultivating it, and curing it is apparently quite tricky. Trickier than a home brew kit, and takes months to grow.

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" - Blaise Pascal

Actually, the headline is somewhat inaccurate; he didn't compare cannabis to Communism, he compared it to opium, which he says "contributed to the Chinese Cultural Revolution".

Contrary to the UCP, his comments in context don't sound any better. It's true that the British campaign to keep opium sales afloat in China contributed to the Opium Wars, but the last of those wars ended in 1860, and the Communists didn't take over until 1949. Even if those wars had a long-term reverberation into the 20th Century, that probably would have been true of any humiliating defeats China suffered, drug-related or otherwise.

And linking it to the Cultural Revolution is even more of a stretch, since that didn't get going until 1966, and had nothing to do with opium.

Young children can't resist tide pods, I'm hoping they can resist baked goods with pot! And growing it at home? Stupid.

Well, I guess that just as we can use common sense in the storage of laundry detergent, alcohol, toothpaste and other substances that taken in large or even ANY quantities can harm kids, we can probably use common sense in the storage of marijuana edibles too.

Though I do like the idea of commercially sold edibles being manufactured to look not like something enticing to kids. I believe this was proposed in Colorado a while back, not sure what happened there.

Young children can't resist tide pods, I'm hoping they can resist baked goods with pot! And growing it at home? Stupid.

Well, I guess that just as we can use common sense in the storage of laundry detergent, alcohol, toothpaste and other substances that taken in large or even ANY quantities can harm kids, we can probably use common sense in the storage of marijuana edibles too.

Though I do like the idea of commercially sold edibles being manufactured to look not like something enticing to kids. I believe this was proposed in Colorado a while back, not sure what happened there.

Colorado followed through, not sure how it is now though..I;m going to wait and see if there is harm to animals and small children, I damn well hope there isn't, including second had stink

^^How can they be not ready? They're not being asked to enforce more, they're being asked to enforce less.

^ I suspect that home-brewed alcohol causes far fewer problems than store-bought, and I suspect that it would be the same for Marijuana. Is "For personal use only" really that hard?

I used to homebrew Beer, Cider, Wine. I can't agree that its never a problem. I noted consumption notching up. The wanting to try out stuff and have other people try it gets you in a bit more of a drinking habit. I don't typically drink a lot, but I was drinking considerably more when I was brewing large quantities. You almost have to. As a brewer you try out batches regularly and often have two brews running at once just out of the interest in the habit. Even with kits its a trail and error process and as with anything you want to get better at it. so all of a sudden you have this horde of alcohol products.. Didn't sell the stuff but personal use will increase consumption, and therefore be an issue of some sort, one way or the other.

Aside from discipline, which I generally have, its fairly inate to consume more if you have more.

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

^ If weed is legally available, whether at stores or from your home, logic dictates that consumption will go up.

The counterargument is that people who want to smoke weed already know where to get it, so are currently buying it in the same quantity that they'll be buying it post-legalization. But this fails to consider that most people with upwardly-mobile aspirations don't wanna be going from one headbangers' apartment to another trying to find a dealer, or lingering around the parking lots of suburban strip-mall pubs hoping no one from their bridge club drives by and sees them. Having to do stuff like that probably deters a certain number of people, especially with a self-image as middle class and respectable, of indulging in weed as frequently as they would like to. Not many doctors, lawyers, or teachers want to end up like this guy.

Not that I have any real problem with increased consumption, just that it's naive to imagine that that isn't going to happen.

Hilarious that you think that weed dealers are headbangers dealing in a parking lot & not the exact same people with upwardly-mobile aspirations as their clientele, or that it's some sort of challenge to get/find pot in the digital age.

One too many Afterschool Specials methinks.

Giving less of a damn than everů Can't laugh at the ignorant if you ignore them!

Hilarious that you think that weed dealers are headbangers dealing in a parking lot & not the exact same people with upwardly-mobile aspirations as their clientele, or that it's some sort of challenge to get/find pot in the digital age.

One too many Afterschool Specials methinks.

Without going into too much personal detail, I will say that my impressions of the marijuana market are based on something a little more empirical than watching Afterschool specials.

And it is quite possible for someone to have upwardly mobile aspirations, while still existing in the kind of milieu that would have a stigma attached by most of society. Back in pre-internet days, the people who ran porn shops were probably as upwardly mobile, in terms of wanting to make money and succeed in their endeavours, as people who ran banks. But if a bank manager wanted to buy porn, he likely wouldn't just head to the porn shop across the street in broad daylight on his lunch break. It was still something that he would not want most of his employees or customers to see him doing.

And with weed, toss in the fact that, unlike porn, it's illegal, and in many places, you can still get arrested for it. Given that the police in Canada were raiding supposedly established marijuana dispensaries as recently as last year, I would doubt that people buying and selling on the street were totally immune from arrest.

Point taken that the digital age might have made it easier to access marijuana, but don't you still have to go over to the dealers' house, or meet him in a bar etc, to retrieve your purchase. And are street deals totally a thing of the past now?

Without going into too much personal detail, I will say that my impressions of the marijuana market are based on something a little more empirical than watching Afterschool specials.

If "your friend" still uses sketchy hookups, that's on them. The market moved on over a decade ago for the more progressively-minded & technically aware.

Originally Posted by overoceans

And it is quite possible for someone to have upwardly mobile aspirations, while still existing in the kind of milieu that would have a stigma attached by most of society. Back in pre-internet days, the people who ran porn shops were probably as upwardly mobile, in terms of wanting to make money and succeed in their endeavours, as people who ran banks. But if a bank manager wanted to buy porn, he likely wouldn't just head to the porn shop across the street in broad daylight on his lunch break. It was still something that he would not want most of his employees or customers to see him doing.

The pearl-clutching, moralistic North American hangup regarding sex & porn is yet another societal norm that's rapidly changed over the last 10 years. Turns out, almost everyone f*cks & enjoys it, so why the hangups?

Originally Posted by overoceans

And with weed, toss in the fact that, unlike porn, it's illegal, and in many places, you can still get arrested for it. Given that the police in Canada were raiding supposedly established marijuana dispensaries as recently as last year, I would doubt that people buying and selling on the street were totally immune from arrest.

Getting arrested for weed in 2017 in Canada is either a) dispensaries in the gray area of the law b) distribution-level possession or c) tacked on with a bunch of other charges because someone had it on them whilst robbing a house or smacking their girlfriend around or jaywalking or whatnot. Simple personal possession is something you'd have to try to get arrested for on its own (for good reason)

Originally Posted by overoceans

Point taken that the digital age might have made it easier to access marijuana, but don't you still have to go over to the dealers' house, or meet him in a bar etc, to retrieve your purchase. And are street deals totally a thing of the past now?

No, you get it in the mail, in a discrete package. Kinda like porn. Or, soon, at a storefront like a 6er of Black Label.

Giving less of a damn than everů Can't laugh at the ignorant if you ignore them!

QUOTE: "The pearl-clutching, moralistic North American hangup regarding sex & porn is yet another societal norm that's rapidly changed over the last 10 years. Turns out, almost everyone f*cks & enjoys it, so why the hangups?"

That probably proves my point, because the tolerance for pornography likely increased because of the internet, which made it easier for people to access the material without running the risk of public shame. So once the deterrernt was taken away, people started accesing it more and general tolerance increased. (In the case of weed, the deterent was law enforcement, not public shaming, but the effects would liklely be the same.)

QUOTE: If "your friend" still uses sketchy hookups, that's on them. The market moved on over a decade ago for the more progressively-minded & technically aware.

Yes, but to the extent that the less tech-saavy are still buying and consuming in sketchy venues of wavering accessability, their consumption will probably increase if they can start buying it as easily as they buy booze, all the time.

But hey. I have been out of the country for the period of time when this supposed pot revolution was taking place. Is it really the case that everyone who wanta weed can now get it as easily as buying anything else, and with no risk of arrest or forays into socially stigmatized milieus? If so, I guess there might not be any increase in usage at all.

^ If weed is legally available, whether at stores or from your home, logic dictates that consumption will go up.

The counterargument is that people who want to smoke weed already know where to get it, so are currently buying it in the same quantity that they'll be buying it post-legalization. But this fails to consider that most people with upwardly-mobile aspirations don't wanna be going from one headbangers' apartment to another trying to find a dealer, or lingering around the parking lots of suburban strip-mall pubs hoping no one from their bridge club drives by and sees them. Having to do stuff like that probably deters a certain number of people, especially with a self-image as middle class and respectable, of indulging in weed as frequently as they would like to. Not many doctors, lawyers, or teachers want to end up like this guy.

Not that I have any real problem with increased consumption, just that it's naive to imagine that that isn't going to happen.

The more considerable impediment that people have had concern with is that the pot is stepped on with something, and often has been, or that you're getting poor quality, ripped off etc. Those would be the main concerns buying illicit substances and the vast majority of weed these days would be home delivered if wanted. So that theres no inconvenience other than someone knocking at your door or meeting you somewhere or simply as mail delivered weed of the week club stuff. No more complicated than ordering a pizza really. You could get the person to pick that up as well on the way as a cover if you trusted him/her not to start eating it on the way... This just my own knowledge from acquaintances that do buy regularly. I think they've even got the KFC special as well..15 pieces, buns, fries, gravy, coleslaw, and a dime bag.

Last edited by Replacement; 11-12-2017 at 09:29 PM.

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

Just like this: https://herbapproach.com 3-day delivery by mail, oenophile-like descriptions, good prices, Specials, and a points program. No medical cert needed.

Keeping in mind this wide open degree of domestic delivery is somewhat new in Canada. Wasn't long ago that Emery was continually getting busted just for moving seeds, and busted for storefront business. I tend to think the proliferation of this now is just that in view of impending legalization that scrutiny about sales has decreased at this time. Places from Vancouver to Toronto though have often been busted and stuff confiscated etc.

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

Just like this: https://herbapproach.com 3-day delivery by mail, oenophile-like descriptions, good prices, Specials, and a points program. No medical cert needed.

Keeping in mind this wide open degree of domestic delivery is somewhat new in Canada. Wasn't long ago that Emery was continually getting busted just for moving seeds, and busted for storefront business. I tend to think the proliferation of this now is just that in view of impending legalization that scrutiny about sales has decreased at this time. Places from Vancouver to Toronto though have often been busted and stuff confiscated etc.

According to CBC, in 2014 there were 24, 540 people charged with marijuana offenses(presumably of all types) in Canada. And from 2008 to 2012, there were 58, 938 possession cases in the courts.

That's all pre-Trudeau, but still, knowing that history, and seeing that raids continued post-2015, if I were living in Canada in 2017, and, say, for example, I had a job that required a criminal record check, or even just a job where getting arrested would carry a lot of stigma(eg. teacher), I don't think I'd be saying to myself "You know, I really feel like getting back into toking again. Think I'll send my address to this website where they deliver it to your door. Heck, the cops in my town have promised they won't be busting anyone anymore, and they're always good for their word, aren't they?"

And yes, I realize that there are lots of people who WOULD say that, just that the number of people who wouldn't is probably significant enough for there to be a noticable uptick in usage if the government makes legalization official and binding forever.

Just like this: https://herbapproach.com 3-day delivery by mail, oenophile-like descriptions, good prices, Specials, and a points program. No medical cert needed.

So, if Herbapproach is available to ANYONE WHO WANTS it, and at ANY TIME THEY FEEL LIKE IT, why do people care so much about legalization?

As I posted above agents like this have crept up what with the impending birth of legalization. Nothing would be so out in the open like this even as little as a couple years ago online. You could get other stuff, synthetics and various hallucinogens but odd to see actual pot distribution online in Canada with no requirement of medical certificates

So new agents like this are a response to impending legalization, and would not otherwise be doing business so openly. As I stated Mark Emery, the prince of pot in Canada has been busted so much he/s been in jail more than not..

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

Just like this: https://herbapproach.com 3-day delivery by mail, oenophile-like descriptions, good prices, Specials, and a points program. No medical cert needed.

So, if Herbapproach is available to ANYONE WHO WANTS it, and at ANY TIME THEY FEEL LIKE IT, why do people care so much about legalization?

As I posted above agents like this have crept up what with the impending birth of legalization. Nothing would be so out in the open like this even as little as a couple years ago online. You could get other stuff, synthetics and various hallucinogens but odd to see actual pot distribution online in Canada with no requirement of medical certificates

So new agents like this are a response to impending legalization, and would not otherwise be doing business so openly. As I stated Mark Emery, the prince of pot in Canada has been busted so much he/s been in jail more than not..

Right. And my point is, for some people, until they see that full legalization has gone through, they're not gonna send their address to a drug-dealing website, that is still technically breaking the law if they sell non-prescription, under the assumption that the police are gonna be a bunch of nice guys and not raid their offices and grab their mailing list.

Perosnally, I hate doing any sort of financial transactions on-line, and avoid it as much as possible. Never mind buying something from criminals who are operating at the tender mercy of the police, selling a product that can still net users a criminal-record, if not outright jailtime.

I agree ftr with everything you have stated in the thread. My first wonder about the cited herbapproach online vending was whether it was an entrapment scam. Enter in name and address and police will be by promptly with your package of monogrammed handcuffs for you...

Yeah, and lets enter all our payment information on a site that is operating illegally. yeah, I got reservations about that as well.

In this day and age people check something like Equifax to see if they`ve been scammed and they get identity theft scammed... I don`t trust **** on the internet in general. I`ll make purchases online only if I can`t buy it any other way.

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

You guys are so out of the loop. Online Dispensaries like you mentioned above exist by the hundreds in Canada. No questions asked, you send the cash they send the product. When one is shut down 10 open up. But it is very difficult for these guys to be caught. Until the Legalization model actual takes a series approach to tackling the black Market (lowering restrictions on becoming LPs, allowing home growers to retail, lowering taxation rate - $1 a gram is laughable) the Black Market will continue to flourish.

Methinks this is actually done on purpose. That there is no actually intent to fully 'Legalize' Cannabis, rather criminalize every element of it which isnt controlled by the LPs to fill up the prisons. Under 'Legalization' there are more possession and distribution offenses than ever before which much longer sentences than precedent set during Prohibition.

^I don't really agree, the legal weed you can buy now is quality stuff, high THC, and has proven popular. If the price is reasonable (I think it is), and the quality consistent, the black market will struggle to compete.

So explain why stoners would trust "illegal weed" from criminal operations more than they would trust licenced and certified weed? other than that they are stoned..

You're assuming that said stoner views the legal certification at or above the same level of reliability & credibility as their current source, and given how the government was still gripped by REEEFER MAAADDDDNESSSS even a half decade ago it's understandable that there may be a bit of a credibility gap there.

Giving less of a damn than everů Can't laugh at the ignorant if you ignore them!

So, if Herbapproach is available to ANYONE WHO WANTS it, and at ANY TIME THEY FEEL LIKE IT, why do people care so much about legalization?

"So, if bootleggers are available to ANYONE WHO WANTS it, and at ANY TIME THEY FEEL LIKE IT, why do people care so much about Prohibition?" - Grandpappy Overoceans, circa 1932

I've just been reading a book about Prohibition actually. As I recall, contrary to the myth, alcohol consumption actually did decrease during prohibition, but not by as much as was desired by the prohibitonists, considering that the whole point of Prohibition was to wipe out drinking in the USA.

And among the people who continued to drink, there was widespread fear of being arrested or lynched by the Klan(especially if they were members of ethinic minorities), not to mention buying dangerously impure alcohol.

But that's not the case in Canada right now, at least according to what you've said here. Apparently, everyone just logs onto various websites and orders their weed from an on-line supplier, or walks into the local mall and buys from a storefront supplier, with no fear of law enforcement, criminals, tainted products, or rip-offs.

So explain why stoners would trust "illegal weed" from criminal operations more than they would trust licenced and certified weed? other than that they are stoned..

You're assuming that said stoner views the legal certification at or above the same level of reliability & credibility as their current source, and given how the government was still gripped by REEEFER MAAADDDDNESSSS even a half decade ago it's understandable that there may be a bit of a credibility gap there.

Given that all of the growing, curing, distributing and product improvement will all be through the efforts of very credible firms already engaged in the industry, and already with ample experience, and background, I don't see how this is a matter of government trust.

Notwithstanding my not comprehending how so many people trust criminal elements or networks or even with any conscience support such business practice.

I daresay the trust in such sources is far from immutable and people will buy licenced marijuana product, just like they buy licenced alcohol.

"if god exists and he allowed that to happen, then its better that he doesn't exist"

FWIW, my original point was that consumption would go up, the theory being that people who would currently like to partake in weed, but are deterred by the illegality and/or the inconvenience of purchases, would be more likely to buy weed if they knew they were dealing with a 100% legitimate supplier who they know will never try to rip them off or be raided by the police.

So, I'm not talking about the weed and tech-savvy guy who's already buying on-line from a cource he trusts, and whether he'd prefer to stick with that or buy from a government-owned outlet(for example). I'm talking about the guy who doesn't currently trust any supplier, and whether or not he will be likely to trust them more, and hence buy from them, in the event of full legalization.

And just to be clear, I'm not talking about millions of previous marijuana virgins suddenly flooding the streets in a mass stupor of stonedness. I'm saying there will be an increase in usage, not neccessarily a tsunami.

So explain why stoners would trust "illegal weed" from criminal operations more than they would trust licenced and certified weed? other than that they are stoned..

Next, please explain why anybody should want to support illegal industry more than licenced industry?

Its like crying for prohibition to come back..

#1 is price. As previously stated current 'Legal Weed / LP Weed' is around double the cost. Would you buy a 6 pack of Molson out of the liquor store for $15 if your neighbor had it for $7.50? Probably not.

Also, the average 'stoner / daily user' has long since sourced a safe, clean, affordable source of Cannabis. Whether that be an in store dispensary as we see in Vancouver or Toronto or an online dispensary like the rest of Canada. Also as numerous LPs have already been caught using banned pesticides the public trust with these companies is not there.

If you bought your weed from these guys with a credit card, the police now have your name and contact information as someone trying to buy illegal drugs. Granted, this is almost certainly a small percentage of the storefront operations, but it's probably gonna be a bit of a detterent to people who might wish to partake, but don't like running the risk.

This was by the mounties, not some locally paid cops doing their own thing. And I'm guessing Nova Scotia doesn't have quite as many storefronts as Ontario, so this is probably a pretty big chunk of the market being taken out.

Dumb question, but why on earth is there such studies, consultation, fuss and bureaucracy about where weed will be sold. We already have stores that sell liquor that are regulated, licenced and trained employees, and are off limits to those under age.
Why not allow liquor stores to sell it. You can go pick up your booze and weed in one place.

Dumb question, but why on earth is there such studies, consultation, fuss and bureaucracy about where weed will be sold. We already have stores that sell liquor that are regulated, licenced and trained employees, and are off limits to those under age.
Why not allow liquor stores to sell it. You can go pick up your booze and weed in one place.

Partly, I think, because dispensaries are already in the game, and probably have some influence over what happens(not only the owners themselves, but customers etc have some interest in maintaining the status quo).

I agree, liquor stores are the most logical choice, and if I had my way, the government never would have gone down the gutless "medical marijuana" path to begin with, but gone straight into legalization. But they did go that route, and now we're probably stuck with dispensaries as active players in the game.

There's going to be a fight over the haul. Can't let the law and order types get more than their share. The "city builder" mafia must be drooling at the prospect - Pet Projects Unbound. Meanwhile Boyle Street has to go begging to keep their warming van project afloat.

Hm. This was a month-and-a-half ago, but didn't seem to get very wide coverage...

MONTREAL -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says "next summer," and not July 1, is the date cannabis will become legal across the country.

If July 1st was never the promise, then that had to be one of the most widespread mass-hallucinations ever to hit the Canadian media. And odd that Trudeau never thought himself obligated to correct the falsehood until last December.

What'll likely happen is: All the pot-smokers will rush out to the streets on July 1st to light up and celebrate the first day of legalization, and the weed will be available in such copious amounts that no one will actually notice that it HASN'T been legalized yet. Except for the unfortuate few that get arrested by the police, who actually ARE keeping track of what is and is not legal.

Hm. This was a month-and-a-half ago, but didn't seem to get very wide coverage...

MONTREAL -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says "next summer," and not July 1, is the date cannabis will become legal across the country.

If July 1st was never the promise, then that had to be one of the most widespread mass-hallucinations ever to hit the Canadian media. And odd that Trudeau never thought himself obligated to correct the falsehood until last December.

What'll likely happen is: All the pot-smokers will rush out to the streets on July 1st to light up and celebrate the first day of legalization, and the weed will be available in such copious amounts that no one will actually notice that it HASN'T been legalized yet. Except for the unfortuate few that get arrested by the police, who actually ARE keeping track of what is and is not legal.

Many Canadians would be very plssed off if it was scrapped, and many of them don't smoke weed. They own shares in Marijuana companies on the stock market. I don't think it would be wise for the PC's, and senators to tamper with the legislation, we have already passed the point of no return.

Many Canadians would be very plssed off if it was scrapped, and many of them don't smoke weed. They own shares in Marijuana companies on the stock market. I don't think it would be wise for the PC's, and senators to tamper with the legislation, we have already passed the point of no return.

I'm gonna reply to this on the other thread on marijuana, in the Business forum.